The Duster Today

Media Credit: augustrushmovie.warnerbros.com Highmore outstanding in role of August Rush.

As soon as the movie began, I was mesmerized. It had been awhile since I'd seen a movie that captured my attention throughout the entire time, but "August Rush" gave me the feeling that I didn't want it to end.

The story begins when, one night, the talented cellist, Lyla Novacek (played by Keri Russell) has just performed a concert and goes to the rooftop of the building for a breath of fresh air. She is surprised to find another man sitting on the roof, too … a man she learns to be Louis Connelly (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), who is also a musician in a band. Though the saying "Love at first sight" is cliché and unbelievable to many, for Lyla and Louis, they do not doubt these words. The two of them, who both share the same passion for music, fall in love as the song "Moondance" is heard playing somewhere on the street below them.

They spend that night together, and both long to be together after that night, but Lyla's father keeps her away from Louis. Lyla becomes pregnant with their child and wants to tell Louis, but then she is hit by a car. In the hospital, after nearly dying during labor because of the accident, she awakes to her father telling her, "He's gone." Her father makes her believe that her child is dead.

However, her child was given up for adoption, and he grows up in an orphanage. He lives with a powerful faith that his parents are out there, that they love him and they want to find him. A passion for music fills his soul and he creates symphonies in his mind from hearing even the simplest sound of the wind waving through the grass.

He feels connected to his parents through music and believes that if they can hear him, they will find him. The little boy, who is 11 now, goes to New York City in search of his parents. Along the way, he meets a man, the Wizard (Robin Williams), who becomes a manager to him after hearing the boy's amazing performance on a guitar. Wizard calls the young boy August Rush and hopes to make a lot of money from him.

The drama is felt as August is hoping to find his mom and dad, Louis is trying to find Lyla and share the love they once had, and as Lyla finds herself searching, too. I was surprised with how connected I felt to the story. It was as though I felt their pain and was with them on their journey.

What made me feel connected to the story is the actors themselves. I believe them. Keri Russell portrays the agonizing pain and desperation of a mother in search of her child extremely well and she gained my respect through her acting in this film. This was the first time I'd ever seen Jonathan Rhys Meyers in a movie and I was impressed with the passion he poured into his character. The look of intensity in his eyes as the character of Louis convinced me of the love he had for Lyla.

Freddie Highmore, who plays August Rush (he was Charlie in the 2005 remake of "Charlie in the Chocolate Factory"), though, in my opinion, outshines everyone else in the film. This new actor has been blessed with an incredible talent and your heart just reaches out for him in this movie. Though he is only 12 years old, I think he already surpasses some actors, who have been in the business for years.

I will not tell you what happens at the end of "August Rush." All I will say is it will leave you anxious up to the very last couple of minutes. It had a surprisingly powerful effect on me and is something that has lasted in my mind because of the beauty of the filming, the music, acting and the story itself. If you like music, or are a musician yourself, whether playing in a band, the orchestra or singing in a choir, whatever talent it may be, you will understand the power behind this movie.

To some, the story may seem far-fetched and too much like a fairy-tale; I'll even admit that at first I had my doubts about the story-line. But as the movie progressed, I found myself believing. After seeing it, I can honestly say that it has become one of my favorite movies of all time.

I urge, beg, plead with you … well, I guess that is being a little too dramatic, but I do encourage you to go see this movie. Go with your family, friends … it's even a great date movie.

And now, I will leave you with a quote from the movie: "The music is all around you, all you have to do is listen."

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